Blue Water Task Force

The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.

Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.

Surfrider Foundation New Hampshire partners with University of New Hampshire Jackson Estuarine Lab to monitor water quality at four ocean beaches from North Beach to Pirates Cove. Sampling occurs during the off-season.

 Our BWTF data augments the seasonal beach monitoring program conducted by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service and helps inform the public about where it is safe to surf, swim, and play. 

If you are interested in becoming a BWTF volunteer, please contact nh@surfrider.org

Local Water Quality Resources

• Map of Current Beach and Cyanobacteria Advisories
• University of New Hampshire Jackson Estuarine Lab
• New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES)